Vidiots: The Enduring Video Store Defying the Odds Since the VHS Era

In 1985, Patty Polinger and Cathy Tauber launched Vidiots in a former bail bonds office just a few blocks from Santa Monica beach, entering the burgeoning video rental market. That same year saw the rise of Blockbuster in Dallas and smaller rental franchises spreading throughout California. Childhood friends from West Los Angeles, Polinger and Tauber shifted careers from international film distribution and business management to entrepreneurship. "We were weary of male-dominated corporate environments and wanted to create our own business," Tauber shared during a recent interview.

Inspired by a magazine article highlighting the rapid expansion of video rental outlets—which had reached around 15,000 nationwide by the mid-1980s—the pair decided to take a bold step into retail, despite having no prior experience. "In our early 30s, we felt it was now or never," Tauber recalled with a smile. When traditional banks declined their loan requests, they turned to family support. Budget constraints even influenced the store’s name; limited to seven letters for their neon sign, they coined the distinctive name 'Vidiots.'

From the outset, Polinger and Tauber aimed to set their shop apart as an inclusive alternative to the often pretentious niche video stores. "We didn’t want customers to feel pressured to be film experts," Polinger noted. Their initial collection featured about 800 VHS titles available for rent at $2.50 per day for members, including classics like the Beatles documentary 'Let It Be' (1970) and Jean Cocteau’s 'Beauty and the Beast' (1946). Beyond rentals, the founders envisioned Vidiots as a gathering place, hosting events that cultivated a sense of community. Early on, patrons enjoyed late-night sessions with experimental filmmaker Kenneth Anger and quirky celebrations such as a breast-shaped cake for cult director Russ Meyer, famous for campy films like 'Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!' (1965). "Some women even wore bras as tops, which Russ happily autographed," Tauber reminisced.

Vidiots became known for its lively events, including puppet shows, limbo contests, and a polka party honoring documentarian Les Blank. An Elvis impersonator performed following a screening of 'Mondo Elvis' (1984), while local musicians from Venice Beach would spontaneously drum on paint cans inside the store. "Weekend nights were especially festive, often feeling like a lively party," Tauber said.